Hearing

From Premium Increases to Failing Co-ops: An Obamacare Checkup

To assess the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) plans to protect consumers and safeguard billions in taxpayer dollars.

To examine the viability of the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) Program, and other concerns related to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

BACKGROUND:

Under the PPACA, CMS awarded $2.4 billion in loans to help create CO-OPs.

14 of 23 CO-OPs have closed, disrupting insurance for over 800,000 consumers.

More than half of the nine remaining CO-OPs are on Enhanced Oversight Plans and/or Corrective Action Plans.

The Exchanges have also been plagued by systemic problems, including call center glitches, website failures, software problems, deficient processes for determining eligibility, and lower than expected enrollment numbers.